French photographer Christophe Jacrot has spent years capturing the magic of snow-covered destinations around the world, challenging the conventional wisdom that winter vacations are more about survival than relaxation. His latest photo book "Winterland - The Colours of Snow," published by teNeues, showcases stunning winter landscapes from Canada, Iceland, Northern Italy, New York, and Paris.
Winter is undeniably approaching, with temperatures dropping and the sun shifting into what many describe as "basement mode." Six months of gray weather lie ahead, interrupted perhaps only by escapes to warmer climates with better vitamin D supplies. The question remains: does anyone actually travel in winter just to enjoy snow? Winter vacations often carry a utilitarian quality - pitting oneself against the elements with full physical commitment and high-tech equipment.
Statistics reveal that only about one-third of Germans participate in winter vacations, with 14 million people making the journey according to official data. Most head south to Austria, seeking snow-covered mountains, reliable infrastructure, and affordable prices. However, this group stands in contrast to the 68 percent majority who prefer summer travel. Sun and water triumph over clouds and slush, as summer allows for spontaneity and the freedom to settle wherever conditions are pleasant.
For those who venture into winter destinations, snow often serves merely as a medium for desperate attempts to carve elegant turns on skis while looking graceful - something only about 20 percent actually achieve. The rest of ski tourists tumble down slopes in a state of perpetual bewilderment, following nothing but the law of gravity. Everyone eventually makes it down the mountain, though not always in the manner they intended.
A rare species of people exists who consider winter the most beautiful time of year. These individuals venture into snow-covered landscapes to discover magic that remains hidden from others - perhaps because most people are constantly cold and preoccupied with finding lodges with the most attractive tile stoves. They mentally zoom in on images of places like Norway's Storfjord Hotel, where pristine white sheepskins lie before elegant fireplaces, or the Chedi Andermatt, which boasts more fireplaces than rooms - specifically 200.
Photographer Christophe Jacrot, born in Paris in 1960, belongs to the category of people who remain indifferent to such warm thoughts. His acuity awakens in sub-zero temperatures. The French photographer makes visible the white magic of our planet for those who wonder what the hell one should do in these bitterly cold temperatures. He drives his tripod into the snow when others have already fled.
Following Jacrot's example, one could hop on the next flight to Iceland. Rugged rocks dusted with snow streaks, sometimes adorned with scraggly bushes or a lonely church holding its position in the blizzard on a mountain ridge. A visit to Iceland, as Jacrot notes in his recently published photo book "Winterland," is like witnessing the birth of the world. This privilege comes at the steep price of solitude.
Snowfall empties landscapes of people and roads of cars. Those who yearn for total deceleration and partial renunciation in their vacations - little society, no sensual variety, pure monochrome in gray-white - find the necessary environment in winter holidays. Like any vacation, this one requires an upfront investment: padded jackets, long underwear, and boots that weigh a ton. Winter is meteorologically a caprice, touristically a material battle.
Expensive recreational activities dominate winter tourism. According to Google, skiing and snowboarding rank as the main reasons people take winter vacations. Both sports involve acquisition costs that can climb into the mid to high three-digit range and beyond, especially compared to a swimsuit for summer pool activities. Wellness and traditional food rank lower on the list of winter vacation priorities, with "relaxation in a cozy atmosphere" appearing near the bottom.
The meaning of coziness in January divides opinions. Winter storms give cities apocalyptic features - an experience worth having, like the people in Jacrot's photos who watch the spectacle of snowstorms through windows as if viewing a good blockbuster film. There's something appealing about traveling to remote mountain villages whose outlines can barely be recognized thanks to snow drifts, switching to an environment that blurs in a world that seems to demand razor-sharp distinctions for everything.
Winter vacations sharpen the senses by blurring contours, offering a sensual experience that shows our perception its limits. One simply cannot see everything that lies ahead. As Christophe Jacrot's work demonstrates, winter reveals nature's harsh side, and the recognition embedded in these images suggests it's time to face it head-on. Perhaps it's time to give winter vacations a chance.
